Magazine for fastener applying implements



Oct. 3, 1950 c. M. LINDSTROM MAGAZINE FOR FASTENER APPLYING IMPLEMENTS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 16, 1946 -bz 11912 For C12 arlesMLindslk'om Worn @fs.

Oct. 3, 1950 c. M. LINDSTROM MAGAZINE FOR FASTENER APPLYING IMPLEMENTS Filed NOW. '16, .1946

Patented Oct. 3, 1950 MAGAZINE FOR FASTENER APPLYING IMPLEMENTS Charles M. Lindstrom, Westerly, n.'1.,'a,,ign.;r,

by mesne assignments, to Bostitch, Inc., a corporation of Rhode Island Application November 16, 1946, Serial No. 710,390

This invention relates V tener-applying implements and particularly to hammer-tackers, so-called, adapted to drive double-pointed tacks, staples and similar fasteners for attaching labels, tags and the like to shipping cases, fastening carpets to floors and-upholstery to furniture-nailing roofing and siding to buildings, and for many other Similar purposes.

One object of the invention is to provide an implement of the type indicated which is simple in construction, economical to manufacture, convenient in use, and especially efficient in performing its intended functions.

Another object of the invention is to provide an implement of the type indicated having a hollow magazine into which a supply of fasteners may be conveniently loaded to rest on the bottom thereof and feed to the applying means. I

Another object is to provide an implement o the type indicated having a retractible closure for type indicated constructed substantially entirely V of sheet-metal parts assembled without pins or screws except for a single pivot employed for connecting the operating handle with the magazinearm of th implement.

Further objects of the invention are set forth in the following specification which describes a pre-' ferred form of construction of the implement, by way of example, as illustrated by the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a fastener-applying implement embodying the improvements of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the implement shown with a portionjof its handle broken away and illustrating its operating elements in the same position as in-Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of; the implement showing its operating elements in position during the operation of driving a fastener into the work;

- Fig. 4 is a similar longitudinal sectional view to improvements in fasof the .implement:illustrating the coverlsof its magazine as. withdrawnand the staple pusher retracted to admit :a stick ofstaples shown as being insertedinto-themagazine; i Fig. 5 'is a'plan view of the implement shown with the upper wall of its head as partly broken away to illustrate certainlparts therein; s

Fig. 6' is a fragmentary sectional viewsofthe implement on line 6-6 of Fig. 1 showing the essential operating elements in its interior} Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view of the fore part of the implement taken on line 1-1 .of Fig '5; 'i

Fig. 8 is a transversesectionalview on. line B-8 of Fig. 5 showing the pivotal connection between the parts of the implementand the fric-, tion means for holding the magazine-cover in open position; and I a Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the staple-pusher.

Fastener-applying implements of the so-called hammer-tacker type are used very generally for attaching tags, labels and the like to articles of commerce and for fastening many other objects in place, such as shingles and siding onbuildings, tacking upholstery-fabrics to furniture, and fastening carpets to floors. Such hammer-tackers are swung in the manner of an ordinary hammer with the driving mechanism for the fasteners actuated by impact of a movable part of the implement with the work in'which the fastener is to be driven. The present invention provides improvements in this type of implement including novel construction of its several elements from sheet-metal formed into shape in dies witha. single pivot-screw or bolt connecting the two main parts for relativeswinging movement. In addition, the invention provides an improved arrangement of magazine-cover for retaining the fasteners or staples in place therein which is adapted to be withdrawn to open the magazine and'at the same time automatically retractthe fastener-feeding means such as a slidable staplepusher. The magazine then may be conveniently loaded with a supply of fasteners. by inserting 1 them through an orifice in 'the upper handlemember of the device to position them in advance of the feeding means. r

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 illustrates the implement as; comprising a j handle-member 2 constructed entirely of :sheet-metal shapedinto hollow form' in suitable dies and comprising a weighted head 3 at its forward end and a fingergrip 4 at the rearward end for securely gripping thehandle-member. vThe finger-grip 4 may be constructed in tubular formof rubber or other l 3 resilient material adapted to tightly enclose the rearward end of the member 2 in binding engagement therewith and providing a yieldable grip for the hand. Pivoted intermediate the ends of the handle-member 2 within the sides thereof is a magazine-arm 5 for containing the fasteners, also constructed entirely from sheet-metal in hollow form as shown particularly in Figs. '7 and 3. The magazine-arm 5 may be struck up from a strip of sheet-stock folded to provide opposite parallel side walls 6 connected by a bottom wall. The bottom wall is formed by continuous portions of the metal bent into U-shape with upstanding strips 8 connected at the top by a-lateral'wall 9.

In this way the magaZine-ar-m S takes the shape of a trough having its side Walls 6 spaced apart to abut the sides of U-shaped fasteners or staples S and with longitudinally-extending grooves In lSt-iHg'OIl its". bottom. As shown in Fig. 5,.the inner=:edges at the top;of: the'sid'ewalls 6- ofthe magazine-arm .5 ...may;jbe achamfered, or beveled slightly at l i to, provide for easyentrance iOfthe' staples S into the magazine.- The rearward end ofzthe'magazine-arm '5 is closed by rectangular wing-portions 2- of the metal foldedinwardly from the side walls 6 and meeting at the center asfl-shown in Figs. 6 and 8. At this end of the magazine-arm 5 the sidewalls B are extended upwardly. in hinge-ears I3 pierced with holes hi for receiving a pivot-bolt 45 to hingedly connect the arm to the handle-member 2, see Fig. 8. Preferably, .the hinge-ears 13 are punched or swaged outwardly around the holes Hi toform projecting cylindrical .flanges [6 providing extendedbearing hubs for receiving a cylindrical bushing '23 through which the bolt I5 extends. The 'bolt .l5 is inserted through punched holes IT in the sidewalls 2| 'of the handle-member 2 and a nut 22; on thethreaded end of the bolt is set up to bind said walls against the ends of the bushing 210;

. .At'its forwardend the metal of, the side walls 6 of the magazine-arm 5 is extended upwardly in yerticalstrips '23 which have rearwardly-extendingoverhanging portions 24. The side strips 23 have extensions 25 and 26 at their forward ends folded inwardly across the front and disposed in overlapping relationship, as shown most clearly in; Fig. 6, to prov-idean end wall which forms a part of :the throat or guideway 2'! in which the stapleedriverw is adapted to reciprocate. Below the; extensions 25 :and :26, the ends of the side wallsifi'of thjearm '5 are bent inwardly to provide a @pair of projections 28, see Figs. 4 and 6, which serveasfabutments-to limit the forward feeding movement of the staples S, see Figs. 2 and 6-.

:2. To complete the throat-or guideway '2'! a housing-13.! is. attached to the forward end of the arm 5; overlying the outer faces of the side strips 23. Tlierhousing' 31 is formed from a single strip of sheetametal'withia bottom wall 32 and upstandingtsidewalls 33 conforming to the shape of the siderstrips 23. The side walls 33 of the housing 3Lare welded to the side strips 23 and itsbottom wall welded tothe under side. of the. arm 5. As shown in Figs. 1 and'Z, the under sidewof the bottom wall 32 of the housing 3| isbeveled at 34 to. provide an inclined striking face attire-"end of the arm 5.- The sides 33 of'the housing 3! are bent-or folded inwardly at the front in alined wings 35 disposed parallel with "the forward face of 5 the'extensionfi on the side wall 5 of"thearin 5 Witha space therebetween which forms the throat or guideway 2! for the staple-driver The inwardly-bent portions or wings of the housing 3! are arranged with their edges spaced apart to provide a vertical slot 36 at the front of the magazine-arm 5. Below the upper edges of the side walls 33 of the housing 3| the metal is slit to form two-strips 37, see Fig. 6, Which are expanded outwardly to provideprojecting detents serving to limit the swinging motion be tween the handle-member 2 and the magazinearm 5 in the manner as later explained.

7 Referring to Fig. 9, the feeding means for the fasteners consists in a staple-pusher All constructed from a-relatively thin strip of springsteel having a forward, relatively wide portion 4| adapted-to fit between the side walls 6 of the arm 5 and a narrowerrearwardly-extending tailportion 42 terminating in a reversely-bent, up-

standing hook 43. The tail 42 of the pusher 4B is received in a pair ofg islotsor recesses 48, see Fig. 8, iin'the upper edges of the wing'portions [2 which form the rear wall of the arm 5.- The for: ward end ofthe pusher 49 is folded downwardly to.-pro .vide a verticfllwall 44 adapted to, engage againsttherearmost staple of the series in the magazine 5. At its lower end the vertical wall 44 isfolded rearwardly at 45 to provide a seat for the end of a helical spring 48 which extends longitudinally within the sides of the magazine-arm 5. with its rearward end abutting the wing portions 12 which close the end of the arm. The spring 46 is maintained under compression and tends to slide the pusher '40 forwardly to feed the staples S to the driving means at the forward end of the arm 5. a

Referring to Figs. 3,4 and 5, the cover 50 for the top of the magazine-arm 5 is constructed from a strippf sheet-metal folded to provide an upstanding hollow rib 5| extending centrally along substantially the whole length with laterally-projecting side flanges overlying the top of the pusher 40. Adjacent its forwardend the metal ofthe cover 50 is extendedlaterally in a pair ofarms 52, see Fig. 1, which rest on the upper edges of the side walls 6 of the arm 5 with portions folded downwardly to-straddle the sides of the arm. The lower ends of the arms 52 are formed at the front with outwardly-projecting finger rests 53, see Figs. land 7. The rests 53 may be gripped by the fingers for drawing the cover 59 rearwardly to open the top of the magazine in the arm 5 and the rearward end of the cover is adapted to engage in the book 43 at the end of the tail *42 on the pusher :40 to retract the latter against the tension of the spring 46, seeFig.4.

The cover-Ends :held down against the pusher 40 by resilient means as nextdescribed. Coiled around the bushing 20 is a helical spring having one end reaching forwardly in an extension 56, see Fig. 6', bent laterally at its forward end and hooked across the rib-5i 'on the top of the cover 50. The opposite end of the coiledportion ofw'th'e springi55i is anchored at 5! to a. rotary latch-member 60 mounted'on the bushing 20. As shown more particularly in'Fig's-e and 8, the latch-member tlifis formed'ofsheet-metal with circular bearing-ears 6| perforated with axial A larger opening 61 in the top of the handlemember 2 provides an entrance for inserting the- Referring to Fig. 2, the lower end of thearcuate cross-strip 82 of the latch-member 60 is normally maintained in engagement with the end of the rib 5| on the cover 50 to hold the cover in its closed position. against the tab or lever 65 the latch-member 6|] may be rocked to release the end of its arcuate cross-strip 62 from the end of the rib 5| to permit the cover 50 to be withdrawn along the arm 5 to open the magazine as shown in Fig. 4. Thereafter, when the latch-member 6B is released theedge of its arcuate cross-strip 62 will engage the top of the rib 5| to apply frictional resistance to the forward movement of the cover 50 whereof to retain it in open position after it has been withdrawn. However, after the magazine in the arm 5 has been supplied with fasteners the latchmember 60 may be released by rocking it in clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 4, to allow the cover to be slid forward with the pusher 5!] until the forward wall 44 of the pusher engages the rearmost staple S in a stick inserted into the magazine in the arm 5. It is then necessary to manually slide the cover 50 further forward to closed position, at which juncture the member 60 will be rocked by the spring 55 to engage it with the end of the rib 5| to hold the cover in its closed position.

Referring to Figs. 2, 6 and 7, the upwardlyprojecting lateral strips 23 and the sides of the housing 3| at the forward end of the magazinearm 5 are formed at the top with alined slots 68 for receiving a pair'of ears or lugs 69 which project outwardly from the sides of an angular step H1. The step 10 forms a seat for a helical spring acting tonormally maintain the magazine-arm 5 swung downwardly with respect to the handle-member 2. The downward swinging movement of the arm 5 is limited by the engagement of the detents 31 at the sides of the hous ing 3|, see Fig. 6, with similar detents 13 projecting inwardly from the sides of the head 3 on the member 2. As shown in Fig. 1, the detents 13 are formed by slitting the sides of the head 3 at 14- and expanding the metal inwardly By pressing the finger at points therebelow. The upper end of the spring 15 is seated in a circular recess 16 indented into the lower face'of a horizontal plate-member TI. The plate 7'! fits Within the head 3 of the handle-member 2 abutting the under side of a secondary'plate 1B which forms a rest for a block or pad 80 of rubber bearing against the upper wall of the head. At its rearward end the plate 11 has a narrow lug l9 reaching outwardly through an aperture 8| at the rear of the head 3 and bent to hook over the edge thereof. At the forward end of the plate 11 its edge is beveled at B2. The secondary plate 18 has a pair of spaced lugs 83"bent downwardly over the edge of the underlying plate 11 whereof to hold the latter from moving forwardly. At the front of the head 2 is an aperture 85 through which an instrument such as a screw-driver may be inserted and twisted to pry up the forward end of the secondary plate 18 against the resiliency of the rubber pad 80. The prying upwardly of the forward end of the plate 18 will release its lugs 83 from the edge of the underlying plate 1'! to allowithe latter to be moved forwardly. The underlying plate 11 then may be pushed forward, that is, towards the front end of the implement to withdraw its lug 19 from the edge of the aperture.8| in the head 3 so that the parts may be disassembled to remove the 'rubberpad' should its" replacement be required. In other words, the plate 11 will be free to drop down away from the secondary plate 18 so that the latter with its rubber pad 80 may be removed from the head of the implement. The rubber pad 80 provides a cushion to absorb the shock and jar on the parts when the implement is operated to drive "a'fastener in the manner indicated in Fig. 3 of the drawings. The means for actuating the driver 30 are constructed and arranged as next described.

Referring to Figs. 4 and 6, the driver 30 may be constructed from a hardened metal bar of substantially rectangular shape in cross-section having a spline or key 33 projecting from its forward face. orslot 36 between the edges of the inwardly-bent wings 3'5at the forward end of the arm 5 with the main portion of the driver slidable in the' At the top .lower end of the driver 30 is formed with a recessed face 4 which is alined with the foremost staple S in the series-in the magazine of the arm 5 for engagement with the head of the staple to drive it into the work. The staple-driver 30 is reciprocated in the throat 21 by means of its con-- nection with the head 3 of the handle-member 2. For this purpose a hardened metal contact-member is welded to the forward wall of the head 3 and provided with a pair of rectangular block-like projections 9| and 92 which straddle the lug 39 to connect the driver 30 to themember 2. 'The upper end of the projection 9| forms a rest for the forward end of the plate H as shown in Fig. 2. Referring to Fig. 3, it will be obvious that as theimplement is held in the hand and its forward portion brought down against the work W thecontact of the striking face 34 therewith-will force the end of the arm 5 upwardly against'the tension of the spring 15. During this relative movement between the arm 5 and member '2 the" projection 9| on the member 95 in the head 3 will engage the upper end of the driver 30 and force the latter downwardly to drive the staple S'- into the work. The method of operation of the complete implement is as next explained.

The implement is loaded with fasteners'by first rocking the member 69 against the tension of the spring 55 to release the end of its cross-strip 62 from the end of the rib 5| on the cover 50. cover 50 then may be slid rearwardly as indicated in Fig. 4 and as its rearward end engages with the hook 43 on the tail 42 ofthe staple-pusher 4|! the pusher will be retracted by and with the cover as the spring 46 is compressed. The top of the magazine thus is opened to receive the staples S 1 and the pusher 4i] withdrawn to provide for in- Upon serting them in advance of the latter. manual release of the latch-member 60 its spring 55 will rock the member to engage the lower edge A of its cross-strip 62 against the top of the rib "5| on the cover 56 to frictionally withhold the latter from sliding forwardly under the tension of the:

spring 46.

A plurality of staples S attached together ina stick or refill may be entered through the opening 5'7 in the top of the handle member fi -to- The key 38 engages through the opening .The

Then, by pressing" of the pusher 4!! under the expansion of the spring 46 will cause its tail 42 to slide the cover 50 forwardly to a certain extent; but the cover must be still further advanced to close the top of the magazine and this is accomplished by pressing against the finger-rests 53 at the sides of the arm 5. During this manual sliding of thecover 5D forwardly it, is unnecessary to hold the latchmember 60 released as its frictional resistance to such movement is relatively slight. As the cover 50- is finally closed with its forward end in contact. with the front wall-portion 25 of the magazine the latch-member 68 will be rocked by its spring 5.5 to engage the lower edge of its crossstrip 62 with the end of the rib 5| to maintain the cover in closed position. The forward extension 56 of the spring 55 serves to normally hold the cover down against the top of the magazine while it is being withdrawn or slid forwardly thereon; and to positively resist any upward movement of the cover when in closed relationship its forward end engages under the rearwardly-extending portions 24 of the vertical strips 23 on the arm 5-and the corresponding overlying portions of the housing 3 I.

After the implement is loaded in the manner explained above it is ready for manipulation to drive the staples S successively into th work. The finger-grip 4 at the end of the arm 2 is grasped in the palm and the fingers of the hand and the implement wielded in the manner of an ordinary hammer to strike the beveled face 35 at the forward end of the arm 5 against the work W. As the arm 5 is brought down into contact with the work it will be swung upwardly against the tension of the spring 15, thereby causing the upper end of the driver 3!] to be engaged by the projection 9! on the contact-member 90 to force the driver down against the head of the staple and drive it into the work. As the implement is lifted away from the work the sprin 15 will swing the arm 5 downwardly relatively to the member 2, thereby causing the staple-driver 30 to be slid upwardly in the throat 2'! to raise its driving face 41 above the staples as shown in Fig. 2. As the staple-driver 30 is raised to this position the tension of the spring 46 will advance the staple-pusher 40 sufliciently to feed the staples S forwardly'in the magazine to locate the next foremost one in the series beneath the lower edge of the driver so that the implement is prepared for another operation. It has been explained that the relative movement between the V magazine-arm 5 and handle-member 2 under the tension of the spring 15 is limited by the engagement of the detents 31 and 13 shown in Fig. 6. The implement may thus be operated continuously to drive the staples progressively therefrom and into the Work until the supply in the magazine is exhausted.

It has been stated that the rubber block or pad 80 in the head 3 of the handle-member 2 is provided to absorb. the shock and jar 0n the parts of the implement. As the forward end of the stapling-arm 5 makes contact with the work and compresses the; spring 15' the rubber pad will yield slightly to absorb the shock of the impact and thereby prevent crystallization of the spring I5 and the other elements of the device which would be liable to cause fracture thereof. In certain types of work the implement may be swung against relatively yieldable material, such as in tacking down carpeting or nailing fiber shingles, in which case the staple-driver 30 may penetrate into the work causing the end of the arm 5 to contact with the plate Tl. rubber pad 80 will serve as a buffer to absorb the shock of the impact.

It will be observed from the foregoing specification that the present invention provides important improvements in the construction of the various parts of a stapling implement of the type indicated, while also facilitating and conveniencing the loading of itsmagazine with fasteners. Further, the improvement makes for more ellicient operation of the implement while rendering it more economical to manufacture and proof against damage to or breakage of its parts.- While the device is herein shown as embodied in a. preferred form of construction, it is to be understood that modifications may be made in the form and arrangement of its parts without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Therefore, without limiting myself in this respect, I claim:

1. A fastener-applying implement comprising a magazine for containing a supply of fasteners, a slidable cover for closing the magazine, a pusher slidable longitudinally of the magazine to feed the fasteners forwardly therein, said cover being engageable with the pusher to retract it in the magazine, a manually operable rotary latch-member having a. shoulder engageable with the end of the cover to hold it in closed position and also pro-- vided with an arcuate-portion frictionally engageable with the top'of the cover to maintain it in open position, and a spring for rocking said latchmember to engage it either with the end of the cover or with the top thereof.

2'. A fastener-applying implement comprising a hollow magazine for containing a supply of fasteners; a slidable cover overlying the top of the magazine, a pusher slidable longitudinally of the magazine to feed the fasteners forwardly therein, a spring for advancing the pusher in the magazine, means operative by the sliding of. the cover to retract the pusher in the magazine, a rotary latch-member. having a detent-shoulder adapted-to-positively engage the end of the cover to hold it in closed position, said latch-member being formed with an arcuate portion frictionally engageable with the top of the cover to maintain it inopen-position, and a spring for rocking said latch-member to engage it either with the end of the cover or with the top thereof.

3. An implement of the type indicated comprising a hollow magazine for containing a supply of fasteners, a pusher slidable in the magazine for feeding the fasteners forwardly therein,. a spring for advancing the pusher in the magazine, a cover slidable on the magazine for open-- in or closing its top, said cover provided with manually-engageable gripping means projecting at the sides of the magazine for sliding the cover,.

means on the pusher engageable with the cover for retracting the pusher when the cover is slid to open the magazine, and a rotatable latchmember having an arcuate portion adapted to be moved into frictional engagement with the top'of When this occurs the,

the cover to hold the latter in open position, said arcuate portion terminating in a shoulder adapted to engage the end of the cover to positively lock it in closed position.

4. In a fastener-applying implement, a hollow magazine for containing a supply of fasteners, a pusher slidable in the magazine to feed the fasteners forwardly therein, a spring for advancing the pusher in the magazine, a cover slidable along the top of the magazine and provided with finger-grips straddling its sides, means on the pusher engageable by the cover to retract the pusher in the magazine, a pivoted latch-member having an arcuate portion formed at one end to provide a finger-lever and terminating at its opposite end in a radial shoulderfor engaging the end of the cover to hold it in closed position, said arcuate portion of the latch-member being adapted to frictionally engage the top of the cover to hold it in open position, and a spring l for rocking the latch-member to engage it with the cover.

5. A fastener-applying implement comprising a hollow magazine for containing a supply of fasteners, a pusher slidable in the magazine for feeding the fasteners forwardly therein, a spring for advancing the pusher, a cover overlying the magazine and slidable longitudinally thereof, means on the pusher engageable by the cover for retracting the pusher when the cover is slid to open the magazine, a latch pivoted to the magazine above the cover and provided with a detent portion for engaging the cover to maintain it in closed position, and a spring for rocking the latch to engage it with the cover, said latch having manually-operable means for rocking it against the tension of the spring to release it from the cover and said latch being frictionally engageable with the cover when released from its end to maintain the cover in open position.

6. A fastener-applying implement comprising a hollow magazine for containing a supply of fasteners, a pusher slidable in the magazine for feeding the fasteners forwardly therein, a spring for advancing the pusher, a cover overlying the top of the magazine and formed with an upstanding rib extending longitudinally thereof, means on the pusher engageable by'the cover to retract said pusher when the cover is slid to open position, a latch-member pivoted on the magazine and formed with an arcuate portion with its edge engageable with the end of the rib on the cover to hold the latter in closed position, and a spring for rocking the latch-member to normally maintain the end of its arcuate portion engaged with the end of the rib on the cover to hold it closed and to also frictionally engage its arcuate portion with the top of said rib to maintain the cover in open position.

'7. A fastener-applying implement comprising a. hollow magazine for containing a supply of fasteners, a pusher slidable in said magazine to advance the fasteners therein, a spring for advancing the pusher in the magazine, means on the pusher engageable by the cover to retract it when the cover is slid to open the magazine, a latch-member pivoted on the magazineabove the cover and formed with an arcuate portion extended radially in a finger-lever, and a helical spring concentric of the axis of the latch-member with one end anchored thereto and its opposite end extended forwardly and overlying the top of the cover, the latch-member being operative by said spring to either engage it frictionally with the top of the cover to maintain it in open position or positively with the end of the cover to hold it in closed position.

' CHARLES M. LINDSTROM.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

